John Huss: his life, teachings and death, after five hundred years/Testimony of the University of Prague to John Huss
TESTIMONY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PRAGUE TO JOHN HUSS
May 23, 1416, Monumenta, 1: 103
O virum ineffabilem, venerande præfulgentem speculo sanctilalis, O virum humilem magnæ pietatis radio coruscantem, qui contemptor divitiarum usque ad excussum sinum pauperibus ministrabat; qui genua pronus flectere ad egenorum lectos non recusabat; qui lachrymis duros ad pœnitentiam provocabat, animosque feroces ineffabili dulcedine mulcendo mitigabat; qui vitia generaliter cunctorum, præsertim, superbi cupidi ef opulentis Cleri, antiquis et oblitis scripturarum remediis quasi novo quodam el inaudito incentivo ex magna charitate funditus exurebat, apostolicisque innixus vestigiis tota sua cura primæve Ecclesiæ mores in Clero restaurabat et populo; qui etiam in verbi fortitudine et sapientia cæteros superabat, in omnibus omnia exercens opera charitatis, puræ fidei et inviolabilis veritatis . . . ut in omnibus fieret Magister vitæ sine pari.
O matchless man shining above all by the example of splendid sanctity. O humble man flashing with the ray of great piety, who contemned riches and ministered to the poor even to the opening out of his bosom,—who did not refuse to bend his knee at the beds of the sick,—who brought with tears the hardened to repentance, and composed and softened untamed minds by his unspeakable sweetness,—who burned against the vices of all men and especially the rich and proud clergy, basing his appeals upon the old and forgotten remedies of the Scriptures as by a new and unheard of motive, conceived in great love, and who following in the steps of the Apostles by his pastoral care revived in clergy and people the righteous living of the early church,—who by braveness and wisdom in utterance excelled the rest, showing in all things the works of love, pure faith, and undeviating truth . . . that in all things he might be a Master of life without compare.